Headrest apparatus

Abstract

A headrest apparatus for vehicles comprising a pair of guide rails connected on a seatback frame and a pair of stays connected to the headrest. A pair of shoes are positioned for movement along the guide rails with each of the shoes supporting a separate one of the stays. A rod member which is connected at its ends to the pair of shoes, and means for moving the rod in an upward and downward direction are provided. The upward and downward movement of the rod moves the shoes in their respective guiderails to raise and lower the headrest. A cam member is attached at an upper portion of each said guide rail for urging the shoes along a selected path and the headrest to an inclined position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A headrest apparatus disposed on a seatback frame comprising: a pair of guide rails connected to said seatback frame;   a pair of stays connected to said headrest;   a pair of shoes positioned for movement along said guide rails, each of said shoes supporting a separate one of said stays;   a rod pivotably connected at its ends to said pair of shoes;   means for moving said rod in an upward and downward direction thereby moving said shoes in their respective guide rails to raise and lower said headrest;   a cam member attached at an upper portion of each said guide rail, each said cam member being provided with a cam surface configured to rotate said shoes and said stays between about 0° and 90° relative to said seatback frame to move said headrest apparatus to a desired inclined position relative said seatback frame.   
     
     
       2. The headrest apparatus of claim 1 wherein each said guide rail includes an edge surface located on an upper surface of said guide rail for guiding said shoe along said selected path. 
     
     
       3. The headrest apparatus of claim 1 wherein each said shoe is provided with an aperture through which the ends of said rod extend. 
     
     
       4. The headrest apparatus of claim 3 wherein each said guide rail has a lateral wall portion, each wall portion having an elongated hole in which the respective ends of the rod travel. 
     
     
       5. The headrest apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a nut connected to a central portion of said rod member. 
     
     
       6. The headrest apparatus of claim 1 wherein each said cam member has a slit therein and each said stay is provided with a flat portion movable through said slit in each said cam member to allow said stays to be rotated relative said seatback frame as said shoes move along said cam surface. 
     
     
       7. The headrest apparatus of claim 6 including an upper panel connected to said seatback frame and having a pair of holes therein through which said stays pass, and a pair of slits communicating with said holes through which said flat portions of said stays pass, and a lower panel fixedly connected to said seatback frame, said guide rails being interposed between said upper and lower panels. 
     
     
       8. The headrest apparatus of claim 5, wherein said means for moving said rod includes a threaded rod engageable with said nut to move said rod member and said shoes along said guide rails upon rotation of said threaded rod. 
     
     
       9. The headrest apparatus of claim 8 including means for providing a rotational torque to said threaded rod. 
     
     
       10. The headrest apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means for providing a rotational torque comprises a gear box engagable with said threaded rod, and a cable, connected at one end to said gear box and at the other end to an electric motor, said cable being rotated by said electric motor to thereby rotate said threaded rod. 
     
     
       11. A headrest apparatus disposed on a seatback frame comprising: a pair of guide rails connected to said seatback frame;   a pair of stays connected to said headrest;   a pair of shoes positioned for movement along said guide rails, each of said shoes supporting a separate one of said stays;   a rod pivotably connected at its ends to said pair of shoes;   a cam having a cam surface, attached at an upper portion of each said guide rail, for contacting respective ones of said shoes to rotate said shoes and said stays between about 0° and 90° relative to said seatback and thereby move said headrest to an inclined position;   a nut connected to a central portion of said rod member; and   a threaded rod engageable with said nut to move said nut and said rod member in an upward and downward direction, thereby moving said shoes along respective guide rails, upon rotation of said threaded rod.   
     
     
       12. The headrest apparatus of claim 11 wherein each said cam member has a slit therein and each said stay is provided with a flat portion movable through said slit in each said cam member to allow said stays to be rotated relative to said seatback frame as said shoes move along said cam surface. 
     
     
       13. The headrest apparatus of claim 12 including an upper panel, connected to said seatback frame, having a pair of holes therein through which said stays pass, and a pair of slits communicating with said holes through which said flat portions of said stays pass, and a lower panel fixedly connected to said seatback frame, said guide rails being interposed between said upper and lower panels. 
     
     
       14. The headrest apparatus of claim 11 including means for providing a rotational torque to said threaded rod. 
     
     
       15. The headrest apparatus of claim 11 wherein said means for providing a rotational torque comprises a gear box engagable with said threaded rod, and a cable, connected at one end to said gear box and at the other end to an electric motor, said cable being rotated by said electric motor to thereby rotate said threaded rod.